-
Period: to
Development
-
Starbucks Opens First Store
Starbucks opens first store in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. -
Howard Schultz Joins Starbucks
Howard Schultz joins Starbucks as director of retail operations and marketing. Starbucks begins providing coffee to fine restaurants and espresso bars. -
Howard Travels to Italy
Howard travels to Italy, where he’s impressed with the popularity of espresso bars in Milan. He sees the potential to develop a similar coffeehouse culture in Seattle -
Howard Convinces the Founders of Starbucks to Test the Coffeehouse Concept
Howard convinces the founders of Starbucks to test the coffeehouse concept in downtown Seattle,
where the first Starbucks® Caffè Latte is served. This successful experiment is the genesis for a company
that Schultz founds in 1985. -
Howard Founds Il Giornale
Howard founds Il Giornale, offering brewed coffee and espresso beverages made from Starbucks® coffee beans. -
Il Giornale Acquires Starbucks
Il Giornale acquires Starbucks assets with the backing of local investors and changes its name to Starbucks Corporation. Opens in Chicago and Vancouver, Canada.
Total stores*: 17 -
Offers Full Health Benefits
Offers full health benefits to eligible full‐ and part‐time employees.
Total stores: 33 -
Total Stores
Total Stores: 55 -
Starbucks Expands Headquarters
Starbucks expands headquarters in Seattle.
Total stores: 84 -
Becomes the first privately owned U.S. company to offer a stock option program
Becomes the first privately owned U.S. company to offer a stock option program that includes part‐
time employees.
Total stores: 116 -
Completes Initial Public Offering (IPO)
Completes initial public offering (IPO), with common stock being traded on the NASDAQ National Market under the trading symbol SBUX
Total stores: 165 -
Opens Roasting Plant
Opens roasting plant in Kent, Wash. Announces first two‐for‐one stock split
Total stores: 272 -
Opens First Drive‐Thru Location
Opens first drive‐thru location.
Total stores: 425 -
Introduces, Opens, Serves
Begins serving Frappuccino® blended beverages. Introduces Starbucks® super‐premium ice cream. Announces second two‐for‐one stock split. Opens roasting facility in York, Pa
Total stores: 677 -
Begins Selling Bottled Frappuccino®
Begins selling bottled Frappuccino® coffee drink through North American Coffee Partnership (Starbucks
and Pepsi‐Cola North America).
Opens stores in: Japan (first store outside of North America) and Singapore.
Total stores: 1,015 -
Establishes the Starbucks Foundation.
Establishes the Starbucks Foundation.
Opens stores in: the Philippines.
Total stores: 1,412 -
Launches Starbucks.com.
Extends the Starbucks brand into grocery channels across the U.S.
Launches Starbucks.com.
Opens stores in: England, Malaysia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Thailand.
Total stores: 1,886 -
Acquires Tazo Tea
Acquires Tazo Tea.
Partners with Conservation International to promote sustainable coffee‐growing practices.
Acquires Hear Music, a San Francisco–based music company.
Announces third two‐for‐one stock split.
Opens stores in: China, Kuwait, Lebanon and South Korea.
Total stores: 2,498 -
Establishes licensing agreement with TransFair USA
Howard Schultz transitions to chairman and chief global strategist, Orin Smith promoted to president and
chief executive officer. Establishes licensing agreement with TransFair USA to sell Fairtrade certified coffee in U.S. and Canada.
Opens stores in: Australia, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
Total stores: 3,501 -
Introduces ethical coffee‐sourcing guidelines, Introduces the Starbucks Card.
Introduces ethical coffee‐sourcing guidelines developed in partnership with Conservation International.
Introduces the Starbucks Card.
Announces fourth two‐for‐one stock split.
Opens stores in: Austria, Scotland, Switzerland and Wales.
Total stores: 4,709 -
Establishes Starbucks Coffee Trading Company
Establishes Starbucks Coffee Trading Company (SCTC) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Opens stores in: Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Mexico, Oman, Puerto Rico and Spain.
Total stores: 5,886 -
Acquires Seattle Coffee Company
Acquires Seattle Coffee Company, which includes Seattle’s Best Coffee and Torrefazione Italia coffee.
Opens roasting facilities in Carson Valley, Nev., and Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Opens stores in: Chile, Cyprus, Peru and Turkey.
Total stores: 7,225 -
Opens first Farmer Support Center
Opens first Farmer Support Center in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Releases Ray Charles, Genius Loves Company CD with Concord Records.
Introduces Starbucks Coffee Master Program.
Opens stores in: France and Northern Ireland.
Total stores: 8,569 -
Announces fifth two‐for‐one stock split.
Jim Donald becomes president and chief executive officer to replace retiring Orin Smith.
Acquires Ethos Water.
Announces fifth two‐for‐one stock split.
Opens stores in: Bahamas, Ireland and Jordan.
Total stores: 10,241 -
Launches the industry’s first paper beverage cup containing post‐consumer recycled fiber.
Launches the industry’s first paper beverage cup containing post‐consumer recycled fiber.
Opens stores in: Brazil and Egypt.
Total stores: 12,440 -
Eliminates all artificial trans fat and makes 2 percent milk the new standard
Eliminates all artificial trans fat and makes 2 percent milk the new standard for espresso beverages.
Opens stores in: Denmark, the Netherlands, Romania and Russia.
Total stores: 15,011 -
Acquires Coffee Equipment Company
Chairman Howard Schultz returns as chief executive officer.
Acquires Coffee Equipment Company and its Clover® brewing system. Launches My Starbucks Idea, Starbucks first online community. Launches Pike Place RoastTM, which quickly
becomes Starbucks top‐selling coffee.
Opens stores in: Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Portugal.
Total stores: 16,680 -
Opens East Africa Farmer Support Center
Launches Starbucks VIA™ Ready Brew Coffee.
Opens East Africa Farmer Support Center in Kigali, Rwanda.
Launches myStarbucks and Starbucks Card iPhone apps and Starbucks Card Mobile payment.
Opens stores in: Aruba and Poland.
Total stores: 16,635 -
Expands digital offerings for customers
Expands digital offerings for customers with free unlimited Wi‐Fi, Starbucks Digital Network. Seattle’s Best Coffee reinvents business strategy to extend brand’s reach. Expands coffee offerings with ultra‐premium Starbucks Reserve™ line and Starbucks® Natural Fusions.
Opens stores in: El Salvador, Hungary and Sweden.
Total stores: 16,858 -
Celebrates 40th anniversary
Celebrates 40th anniversary with updated brand identity and month of global community service.
Launches Starbucks® K‐Cups® portion packs.
Acquires Evolution Fresh
Opens stores in: Guatemala.
Total stores: 17,003 -
Introduces Starbucks® Blonde Roast
Introduces Starbucks® Blonde Roast. Announces Verismo® system by Starbucks premium single‐cup espresso machine.
Opens Farmer Support Center in Manizales, Colombia.
Acquires La Boulange® bakery brand to elevate core food offerings. Launches Starbucks Refreshers™ beverage platform.
Opens stores in: Costa Rica, Curacao, Finland, Morocco and Norway.
Total stores: 17,651 (as of July 1, 2012)
